Soldiers guard Milan as thousands protest across European cities

Thousands of young people marched in several Italian cities on Saturday, including Milan, Rome, and Turin, as authorities deployed police and soldiers to prevent a repeat of last week's violent clashes and looting. The Milan demonstration remained peaceful, though brief clashes occurred in Rome and Turin. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced measures including sending 500 additional soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said comprised much of last week's violence. In Milan, police detained several minors preventively, while luxury boutiques boarded up but most shops reopened by afternoon. Protests also occurred in Madrid, Lisbon, and Tirana over issues ranging from education and corruption to pensions and housing. In Albania, riot police used water cannons as protesters set government buildings on fire, while Spanish and Portuguese demonstrators marched peacefully over pension and housing concerns.